Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-05
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE SOLDIERS, HOME.

I'll AMI LILO 1ISIS4s
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
Handsome Addition to the Present
structure TO be Erected.
A HISTORY OF THE Hohk-FoUNDKD BIT MONEY
BROUGHT FROM MEXICO BIT GEs. scorT-How RS
REVENUE Is DERIVED PLACE WHERE OLD vKrH-
RANs CAN FIND BEST.
The main building OF the soldiers home IL % be
ENLARGED by the erection Of an addition which win
be similar In size and general design the present
structure As visitors TO the beautiful grounds OF
the home Will remember the present structure Is
large three-story building OF white marble. From
the center a wing extends towards the north and
contains the large dining room The new building
viii stand across the north extremity OF and In
connection with this wing. It viii have frontage
OF 100 feet and depth Of 50 feet, and will be
three stories In height The architects, w. n.
Poindexter 4 Co., have made the design q modifi-
cation OF the Norman and gothic styles Of archi-
lecture, and the prevailing Characteristic Is mas
siveness and soldity. White marble, the material,
lends itself very happily to this style OF construc
tion and the Ornamentation that has been intro
duced Is calculated to contribute to this eject
There is an arcaded course in the second story,
and q series OF round headed windows In the
third story. The arcaded cornice IS crowned with
a battlement A feature that Will prove attrac-
tive Is the small corner turrets In the tniIu story
which are richly carved. The building, which Will
cost $lss.OOO Is to be erected In the most
Substantial manner. The foundations Will De OF
concrete the nsss moor VIII nav o,rers ,eVeIed
up with concrete and dressed with cement. Inc
interior walls will be OF brick, and the nrst story
viii be nre-proof In construction and the rest OF
the building nearly so. The new building will &C
commOdate 24o men, and the meSS-rOOm, winch
occupies the entire frst door, forming room s Ie
go men at table. The ceiling Of this large room
win be 50 feet high, supported on two rows OF or;
STORIES arc the dormtories on eaen Side Of wide
corridors Each room has ventilat1ng shaft ana
the heating is done by indirect radiation, ~, a,
the buildings on the grounds OF the home. Win
few exceptions, will receive heat from this source
large billiard-room. and the recreation hall win
also be located in this part OF the building. Inc
present mess hall win be used for dormitories anu
part is finished, be used for kitchen purposes
The contractor Is Mr.. Frank Baldwin.
HNroRY OF THE HONE.
The home was established for the beneft OF the
men worn out or disabled In the military service
on the country 1t bears the same relation TO the
soldier as the retired list to the officer, and 1t
should not be considered in any way charitable
institution Those who occupyit have In every
instance rendered an equivalent for the care and
protection which they now receive. The nome
originated from q suggestion OF Gen. Wlnnelo
Scott At the time OF the entry of the American
army into the City OF Mex0 tns oS rgs mon
the holSetOpS. As punishment tax OF over
hundred thousand dollars was levied upon the CITY
In lS4S Gen Scott transmitted 10 the secretary OF
War draft for 500, 900, with the expressed nope
that it might be allowed 10 so 70 the creOlt OF an
army asylum The money was nrst tulne1 i neO
appropriated, together with balance OF SIS,
remaining from the same levy, for the support OF
a Soldiers Home, the object OF which was 10 pro-
vide comfortable home for old soldiers Of twenty
or more years service, and for invalid and disabled
or discharged soldiers who had served faithfully
and honest ly In the army. In 1851 house was rent
ed In this city this purpose but soon afterwards
the Commission, which at that time consisted Of
the generalin-chief OF the army, the generals COM
mansi,ng the east and west divisions the chiefs Of
the ouartermasters, cOmmiSSary, pay and medical
DEPARTMENTS and the adjutant general, was au-
sary buildings. The farm Of the late Mr.. George
w. Riggs and an adjoining tract OF about sixty
acres, belonging TO MI Charles Ssrivensr, was
and ffty-s1x acres There were several substan-
tial buildings the property: In 1853 three acres
were purchased from Mr.. B. Ogie Tayloe for
s6l3 IS. and In 1855 three acres from James stone
for 81 600. In 1863 tract containing nine and
three-fourths acres was purchased rom MI Whit
afterwar ards bought, forms the wellknOwn Whit
ney avenue the entrance TO the ground most fire.
SC1ntry pIace. aHarewood" containing 1s1 acres
was purchased In 1872 FOR SIS 0OO but nearly the
entire pay ment made with Virginia state bonds
held BY the home, and which were unproductive
In 1873 IA 543 square feet, lying between Whitney
cate and the TN street road, was acquired for
N,seA75. and in 1876 the tract belonging to Mrs
bought for 1000. This latter was the last ac-
QUESTION OF land TO the soldiers Home property,
ing In all ST., 3N.5O The buildings on the
Rigys' place were occupied at firSt, but In
1sa2 the main building and the governors and
OF nearly 100000 From 1860 to 1872 improve
nents TO the main building were made at a cost
q over ahe pnnq was
In 1872, and In 1877 a building for bowling alley
and q billiard room was commenced but before
complete IL for library and a reading room. The
library now contains about Z, 400 volumes.
THE KxvKNgE OF THE HOME.
The revenues OF the Home are as follows: tax
Of twelve and half cents per month upon all OF
the soldiers Of the army; all the unclaimed effects
of deceased soldiers, and also whatever Is due
deserters the time OF deSerion; forfettureS and
the fines imposed by court-martiais. These items,
together with the interest on the bonds belonging
total revenue to about $1,000 or $i6O, goo per
annum- There are now over GOO inmates at the
Home and In addition there nearly 800 old SOL
diers who reside elsewhere and who entitled to
amount to more than eiy ht dollars month The
inmates are required at the discretion Of
In and about the buildings and
grounds as their age and physical condition viii
faithfu performance OF the duties assigned, each
inmate Is allowed 81 and one pound OF tobacco Der
month, or its equivalent In money. OF late years
those receiving pensions have not been compelled
to transfer them 10 the Home; but the law re-
Qutres the pensioners 70 transfer their pensions
the institution during the time they remain there
and continue TO receive its benefits.
AS L. well known, the beautiful grounds about
the Home form q fine park, which Is great pleas
ure resort for the citizens OF the District and Is
In fact, the only park available for driving. The
roads are kept in ne condition and the attractive
scenery Is always an unfalling source OF pleasure
Since the time OF Buchanan. who occupied the
house now known as the governors quarters, the
Presidents have, as rule, spent portion oil the
year In one OF the cottages on the grounds. The
board OF commissioners ut present consists Of the
generals OF the army, the eoumissary, adjutanl
Judge advocate, GuarterInaSter and surgeon gen.
erals, and the governor OF the Home.